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ministry

International cooperation

The BMEL Bilateral Co-operation Programme on Technical Co-operation and projects from the EU Twinning Programme are conducted by the BMEL in many countries around the world. To this end, experts develop concepts to support other countries in the areas of food, agriculture and consumer protection and implement them on site. Both sides benefit from this transfer of experience and knowledge.

In the bilateral co-operation programme the BMEL relies in particular on the support and commitment of companies in the German agri-food industry in the respective partner countries, in addition to consulting and training offerings. The EU-financed Twinning Projects are geared above all to building administrative capacity in partner countries in order to simplify co-operation with the EU.

The ebola outbreak which occurred in West Africa in 2014/15 is considered the biggest in history yet. More than 11,000 people lost their lives. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) now funds an international ebola cooperation project. The goal is to achieve better prevention by targeted research.

On 13 July, Federal Minister Christian Schmidt travelled to Bosnia-Herzegovina to engage in talks on agricultural policy. His meeting with representatives from politics and industry focused on questions regarding closer relations with the EU.

On 20 August 2015, Federal Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt took part in the first German-Brazilian intergovernmental consultations in Brasília, headed by Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel. Further stops on his South America visit were made in Uruguay and Argentina.

Federal Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt travelled from 15 - 17 April 2015 to Zambia and held a number of talks, including with Given Lubinda, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, and Evelyn Nguleka, President of the World Farmers' Organisation.

Within the framework of the Twinning programme, experts from Federal Government and Länder authorities are posted to partner countries, usually for a period of up to two years, to carry out projects in collaboration with local experts. Typical projects include setting up government institutions or preparing new legislation.

The "Sustainable Cocoa Forum", initiated by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture in collaboration with industry and civil society in 2012, is currently repositioning itself. In the future it will work as an association advocating improved living conditions for cocoa farmers and supporting an increase in the market share of sustainably produced cocoa.